Suction attachment



June 10, 1947. i B. GROSS 2,421,877

SUCTION- ATTACHMENT Filed- Aug 27, 1945 Blows/e I N V EN TUR. 55m/Ago 6905s,

rrofQ/VEK Patented June 10, 1947 Bernard Gross, Rohr 'Aircraft ,San Diego, Calif., .assigner `to Corporation, VChula Vista, Calif.,

acorporation of California Application August27, 1945, SerialNo. `612g895 "'7 Claims.

My invention relates to suction attachments, and its objects are to provide a more effective meansfor quickly removing -gases and volatile liquids from tanks, chambers, compartments, vesselscr the like, prior to inspection, renewed use or repair thereof; to accelerate the volatilization ofliquids entrapped by hat beams, stringers or other abutments normally present in airplane wing tanks or similar hollow constructions; to furnish a suction means for the ready removal of vaporsfrom tanks. or receptacles, which admits of. a wide. range of mainmum and minimum adjustment, and to provide a simple suction attachment which can readily and economically be applied `to blowers of conventional type and greatly increase their efficiency at a substantially reduced cost of operation. Other objects will appear from the Vdrawing and as hereinafter set forth and described.

The removal of residual gasoline from tanks, prior to inspection and repair has been accomplished by several means in the past. Sometimes a stream of air is permitted to pass into one of the orices of the tank to remove vapors by causing a changeof air. Tanks are sometimes purged with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas is` permitted to flow into the tank atan orifice which is located at its lowest point. Carbon dioxide, being heavier than the mixture .of gasoline vapors and air, will remain in the lowest areas of the tank. As more carbon dioxide is permittedV to enter the tank it moves upf toward the top of the tank and in so doing, replaces gasoline vapors .and air. This continues until carbon vdioxide nally passes out of the top orices ofthe tank.

Also after the interior of a fuel tank has been treated through the application of sealing materials to the walls thereof to repair or leakprooi the same, the problem is presented of getting the tank ready for the reception ,of fuel unimpaired by vapors or liquids left behind by said fluids. 'I'hevapors from volatile liquids used in sealing fuel tanks, airplane wing oats, airplane pressure cabins and the like must be quickly and effectively removed after the sealing process or sealing repair procedures. .The removal of these volatile materials presents similar problems as the removal of gasoline vapors from fuel tanks do.

`In the case of integrally built tanks and other structures in'which various types of beams-and joints are involved, these two common methods are unsuitable because they are not effective enough and require too much time. Therefore, it has become desirable to `provide a more rapid attachmenthas accordingly been devised as a. satisfactory means of solving these problems.

My invention vprimarily consists in an lassembly of telescoping. tubes constructed =to be connected at oneend with the -orice of a tank and to :be adjustably separated vat the other end Vbyfa gap from the induction -end of. suction apparatus; the diameter of such adjacent ends `being such as to secure -upon adjustment of width of said gap, a range between the maximum and minimumsuction results of which suchv suction vapparatus is capable.

My invention further consistsinother improvements, novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, illustrated in the drawing and more particularly-hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is hereby made to the-drawing, illustratingra preferred form of my invention,.in which similar numerals of` designation-refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and inwhiclr Figurel is a side elevation of `my suction .attachment and conventional blower yto which the same is secured, showing themounting thereof upon a conventional tank and connection thereof to an oriiice or outlet of said tank for the purpose of removing vapors therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus and connections shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts removedl for the purpose of clearness, and

Fig. 3 is a section on line'3-3 of Fig. l looking in the direction -of the arrows.

Referring to thedrawing, my improved attachment 4 comprises the main tubular member t5, having downwardly extending from the outerend thereof, the neck 6 in telescopic connection with the flanged inlet mouthpiece 1, and having at. its inner end, and telescoping therewith, the sliding tubular nozzle 8. Upwardly extending fromsaid outer end of the tubular member 5, and preferably integral therewith,.is then 9, connected by the arm I Il and braces II to the wall of the screened mouthpiece of the inlet end or suction funnel I2 of the conventional blower I3; thesaid arm and braces serving through the said 1in to support the member 5 in operative'position in respect to said blower, with the gapr20 therebetween. As shown inthe drawing, the Vmain structure of the blower I3 is provided with legs I4 resting on the top of the tank I5; 4and the telescoping flanged mouthpiece 'I is protruded from the neckiG toregister with the orifice outlet I6 of'such tank; a washer` I1 Aof rubber or` other suitable material being interposed between the flange of said mouthpiece 'l and wall of the tank to secure cushioning sealed connection thereof. A pressure gage I8 is conveniently mounted upon the blower I3 and is connected by a flexible tube I9 to the member 5 of my suction attachment.

The diameter of the passageway of the tubular nozzle 8 of my suction attachment in relation to the diameter of the inlet end or suction funnel I2 of the blower I3 is made to conform with the result of tests made to determine the greatest amount of suction when the end of such nozzle is set against the screened end of said funnel; and the width of the gap ZIJ may be varied upon extension or retraction of the telescoping nozzle 8 as occasion requires, the degree of such width being determined through the use of the pressure gage I8 as greater or less suction is desired. When the ends of the said nozzle and inlet end or funnel are so in contact the maximum suction of the blower is eXterted, and as they are moved apart such suction diminishes to zero at the greatest width of the gap 2E); so that degrees of adjustment of the amount of suction can readily be brought about and in a manner never heretofore accomplished in the art. As will be observed from Fig. 2, the diameter of the end of nozzle 8 is somewhat smaller than the mouth of the funnel, so as to leave an annular space therebetween when they are in contact, through which space outside air may be drawn into the blower in addition to that coming from the tank.

When my improved attachment is employed for the removal of gases in connection with a conventional suction blower as shown, it is installed preferably upon the top of a tank or other vessel, and the mouthpiece 'I brought in registration with the orice outlet of such tank and pressed down and sealed thereon. The sliding nozzle 8 is thereupon extended or retracted upon the member 5 to obtain the desired amount of suction for the removal of fuel vapors or Volatile solvents remaining within such tank; the pressure gage I8 being used as above described in determining such adjustments, In this connection, I have discovered that my new equipment permits the high volume suction capacity at the suction levels required for the removal of said vapors and solvents; such suction, however, not being great enough to collapse or harm by excess flexing the conventional types of airplanes or other constructions embodying tanks, chambers, cabins, compartments or the like. Whereas, it formerly took up to 24 hours with other types of equipment to remove vapors in certain types of integrally built tanks Vand compartments, it is now possible to remove residual volatile liquids and vapors in a matter of minutes. This is so because the high volume capacity suction unit'permits the rapid boiling oil of residual volatile liquids even when an orifice toward the bottom of the tank is open. In such a case, it is possible to obtain a constant drop in pressure as well as a change in air with this equipment. The former use of air pressure retards the volatilization of liquids entrapped in tanks and compartments made of hat beams, stringers, and the like in airplanes, and due to the fact that complete liquid drainage is impossible in this type of tank. Carbon dioxide purging is ineffective because only vapo-rs which exist during the time of purging are removed. After purging, the entrapped liquid will volatilize and fresh vapors occur. Again, the use of air pressure in the tank will retard volatilization while suction will accelerate volatilization of entrapped liquids. This attachment can be applied to blowers of conventional type.

Where in the appended claims I employ the word tank, I desire to be understood as including any tank, chamber, compartment, vessel or the like in which may be conned or contained the gases or volatile liquids the removal whereof is to be effected through the use of my invention.

My invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment, as above set forth, is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of my invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the above description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein,

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an outlet opening, a blower with a suction inlet opening and a suction attachment aligned therewith, both mounted with gap therebetween upon said tank; said attachment comprising a main tubular member, a tubular neck connected with one end of said member and forming an inlet therein registering with the outlet opening of said tank, and a tubular` outlet nozzle adjustably connected with the other end of said member and movable within said gap toward and from the suction inlet opening of said blower.

2. The subject matter of claim l, including constructing the outlet nozzle of smaller diameter in respect to the diameter of the suction inlet opening of the blower, so as to form a space therebetween when the two are in contact, to aid in providing an in'llux of outside air in addition to the air drawn in from the tank.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an outlet opening, a blower with a suction inlet opening and a suction attachment aligned therewith, both said blower and attachment with a .gap therebetween mounted upon said tank; said attachment comprising a main tubular member open at one end' and closed at the other, a tubular neck connected with the closed end of said member and forming an inlet therein, the outer end of said neck registering with the outlet opening of said tank and being connected therewith, and a tubular outlet nozzle adjustably connected with the open end of said member and movable within said gap toward and from the suction inlet opening of said blower.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an outlet opening, a blower with suction opening and attachment aligned therewith each separately mounted upon said tank; said attachment comprising a main tubular member, open at one endand closed at the other, a tubular neck extending laterally from said member and forming an inlet therein, a tubular mouthpiece telescopically connected with said neck and registering with the outlet opening of said tank, and a tubular outlet nozzle telescopically connected with the open end of said member and in alignment with the suction opening of said blower.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an ,outlet opening, a blower with a suction inlet opening and a suction attachment aligned therewith each mounted upon said tank; said suction attachment comprising a main tubular member, means for securing said member to the inlet end of said blower with a gap therebetween, a tubular neck connected with said member and forming an inlet therein registering with the opening of said tank, and a tubular outlet nozzle adjustably connected with, and opening out of, said member and eX- tensible into and retractable out of said gap.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an outlet opening, a blower with an inlet opening, a cylindrical suction attachment secured to said blower and aligned therewith, both said blower and attachment being mounted upon said tank; said suction attachment comprising a main tubular member having its inner end normally separated from the inlet end of the blower by a gap therebetween, a tubular telescoping inlet neck connected with the outer end of said member and registering with the outlet opening of said tank; and a tubular outlet nozzle telescopically connected with said inner end of said member and slidable into and out of said gap.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank with an outlet opening, a

blower with a suction inlet opening and a suction i attachment aligned therewith each mounted upon said tank, the inlet end of said blower and outlet end of said attachment being normally separated by a gap therebetween; said attachment comprising a main tubular member open at one end and closed at the other; a neel: secured to said member and forming an inlet therein adjacent to its closed end and being removably connected to the outlet opening of said tank; and a tubular outlet nozzle adjustably connected to the open outlet end of said member and longitudinally extensible and retractable into and out of said gap to and from the inlet end of said blower; the diameters of the inlet end of the blower and tubular outlet nozzle not being the same and being such as to secure upon longitudinal adjustment of said nozzle a wide range of suction results within the saidptank.

BERNARD GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

